Compass controlled switch



, May 24, 1938.

o. NEUBERT; JR

COMPASS CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed April 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I/VVE/V TOR. 05cm M5023: n r. JR.

4 TTOR/VEX .May 24, 1938. o. NEUBERT, JR

COMPASS CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed April 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [IV Vf/V TOR. 05cm Nil/BERT. JR.

Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a compass controlled switch whereby a steering, motor or apparatus on a ship is controlled to swing the ship rudder from side to side as the vessel veers from its course.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel compass controlled switch wherein a train of gears that are constantly urged to rotate, permitted to partially rotate thru an escapement actuated by the relative movement of a compass case and a compass needle.

A further object is to provide a novel and effective switch mechanism actuated by a spring or other motivating force thru suitable gears, the rotation of the case relative to the compass needle releasing the gears and alternately opening and closing the switch.

Another object is to provide a novel compass controlled switch of the character stated, in which a minimum of force is required to actuate the switch from the compass needle.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a compass with parts broken away to show the interior construction and with a case enclosing my mechanism mounted on the compass.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the compass controlled switch.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the case enclosing my switch mechanism, the mechanism being shown in side elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the esoapement, the escapement arm and the magnetic needle.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the switch and the pins which actuate the same.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the escapement gear and arm.

Figure 8 is an end view of the compass needle, the actuating cams and the escapement arm.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral indicates a compass housing in which compass bowl 2 is mounted. The compass card and needle 3 are mounted in the bowl 2, all of w ich is usual and well known. The top of the bowl is enclosed by a glass cover 4.

A case 5 is mounted on the bowl 2 above the card 3, and the axial center line of the case 5 is substantially in alignment with the axis of rotation of the card 3. The case 5 can be rotated in a ring 6 which is fixedly attached to the mounting bar I. The purpose of this construction is to permit my compass controlled switch to be adjusted according to the course desired.

The compass controlled switch 8 is fixedly mounted in the case 5 and consists of spaced horizontal plates 9, l0 and H. A spring motor l2-thru suitable gearing-tends to rotate a gear l3. The gear [3 in turn meshes with and rotates 10 a switch actuating gear I4. A magnetized needle I5 is journaled on a vertical axis I5 between the plates H] and II. The needle l5 will swing as the main compass and needle 3 swing, thus leaving the main compass free to accurately indicate direction without retarding its action in any way. In order to operate a switch mechanism, the nee- -dle l5 remains directionally fixed as does the main needle 3, and the case 5 swings and moves with the ship.

The motor I2 is constantly tending to rotate the gear train and gears l3, 14, but these gears are permitted to rotate a partial revolution by an escapement movement operated and controlled by the needle I5.

A control cam I1 is mounted on the spindle of the needle l5 and consists of an upper dwell l8 and a lower dwell l9. An escapement arm 20 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 2!, and on one end thereof, a roller 22 is mounted, This roller is engaged by the upper and lower dwells of the cam I! to depress and elevate one end of the escapement arm as relative rotation occurs between the needle 15 and the case 5.

The amount of movement of the arm 2!] is controlled by a pair of adjusting screws 22, 23. An escapement gear 24 meshes with the gear l3 and a pair of oppositely arranged wings 25, 26 are secured to the gear. These wings alternately engage and are stopped by a pin 21 which projects from the arm 20. That is, one wing engages the pin in the raised position of the arm, while the other wing engages the pin in the lowered position of the arm. Thus, the gear 24 is only permitted to rotate thru 180 degrees each time the arm 20 is raised or lowered by the cam l'l. Since the motor I2 is constantly tending to rotate the gears, when the wings 25 or 26 are released by the pin ill, the gear 24 will instantly rotate and permit a partial rotation of the gears i3 and M. As the gear l4 rotates, it alternately makes and breaks a switch substantially as follows:

A plurality of circumferentially spaced pins 28 project upwardly from the gear M. A switch 29 is pivotally mounted below the plate 9 and is preferably of the mercury bowl type, comprising a glass sphere 36 in which a globule of mercury is placed. The electrical wires extend into the sphere and are spaced apart. When the sphere Ed is rotated in one direction, the globule of mercury will contact the ends of both wires thus closing the switch. When the sphere is rotated in the opposite direction, the globule of mercury flows away from the wires thus opening the switch. This type of switch is usual and well known. The sphere 30 is mounted on trunnions 3E32. The trunnion 31 is formed with a shoulder cam The pins 28 engage the shoulder 33 as the gear 14 rotates and these pins move a distance sufficient to close the switch and hold it in closed position, or move entirely past the shoulder, thus permitting the sphere 38 of the switch to swing by gravity to a position where the switch is opened. The sizes of the gears 13, M are computed so that the pins 28 will move the correct distance to alternately close and release the switch.

In operation, the magnetic needle l5 remains directionally fixed conforming to the position of the main compass needle 3. As the ship swings off its course, the housing 5 will rotate around the needle l5. This causes the cam dwell iii or iii to engage the roller 22 and to either depress or elevate one end of the arm 20. The dwell which engages the roller 22 depends upon which direction the ship swings. One end of the arm 29 is thus moved and the wings Zn or 26 are released. Permitting the gear 24 to rotate under the urge of the spring motor l2. The gear M will then rotate as previously described and the switch 29 will be actuated. The usual steering motor (not shown) is actuated thru suitable and well known relays. The switch 29 is journaled on very accurately machined pins so that it will move very easily. The wires which extend to the sphere 3!] are formed in a loose coil, as shown at which imparts the least resistance to the rotation of the switch element.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A compass controlled switch comprising a magnetic needle, a train of gears, motor means connected to the train of gears whereby said train of gears are constantly urged to rotate, an escapement means in the train of gears, an escapement arm, means mounting the escapement arm adjacent the magnetic needle, means on the magnetic needle engaging one end of said arm whereby said arm is swung on its pivot, means on the other end of said arm engaging the escapement means whereby said escapement means is released for partial rotation, switch means, a means extending from said escapement means and engaging the switch means whereby the switch means is alternately opened and closed.

2. A compass controlled switch comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic needle, a gear train, motor means urging rotation of the gear train, escapement means in the gear train, an escapement arm pivotally mounted adjacent the needle, cam means on the needle, said cam means engaging one end of the escapement arm, means on the other end of the escapement arm engageable with the escapement means whereby said escapement means is released for partial rotation the arm is swung, said cam means swinging the escapement arm when relative rotation occurs between the needle and the arm, switch means, and means extending from said escapement means and engageable with the switch means whereby the switch means is alternately opened and closed as the escapement means rotates.

3. A compass controlled switch comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic needle, a gear train, motor means urging rotation of the gear train, escapement means in the gear train, an escapement arm pivotally mounted adjacent the needle, cam means on the needle, said cam means engaging one end of the escapement arm, means on the other end of the escapement arm engageable with the escapement means whereby said escapement means is released as the arm is swung, said cam means swinging the escapement arm when relative rotation occurs between the needle and the arm, a pivotally mounted. switch, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins on one of the gears in the train, said pins being adapted to engage the switch to close the same as the gear rotates.

4. A compass controlled switch comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic needle, a train of gears, motor means engaging the gear train whereby rotation thereof is urged, an escapement gear in the train, an escapement arm pivotally mounted adjacent the needle, one end of said escapement arm releasably engaging the escapement gear, a cam on the needle, said cam including an upper and lower dwell, one end of the escapement arm being engaged by the upper or lower dwell oi the cam whereby the escapement arm is rocked on its pivot, the rocking of the escapement arm releasing the escapement gear for partial rotation, switch means, and f' means on one of the gears of the train engaging the switch means whereby the switch means is alternately opened and closed.

5. A compass controlled switch comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic needle, a train of gears, motor means engaging the gear train whereby rotation thereof is urged, an escapement gear in the train, an escapement arm pivotally mounted adjacent the needle, one end of said escapement arm releasably engaging the escapement gear, a cam on the needle, said cam including an upper and lower dwell, one end of the escapement arm being engaged by the upper or lower dwell of the cam whereby the escapement arm is rocked on its pivot, the rocking of the escapement arm releasing the escapement gear for partial rotation, a pivotally mounted switch, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins on one of the gears in the train, said pins engaging the switch to close the same as the gear rotates.

6. A compass controlled switch comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic needle, a gear train, motor means urging rotation of the gear train, escapement means in the gear train, an escapement arm pivotally mounted adjacent the needle, cam means on the needle, said cam means. engaging one end of the escapement arm, means on the other end of the escapement arm engageable with the escapement means whereby said escapement means is released the arm is swung, said cam means swinging the escapement arm when relative rotation occurs between the needle and the arm, a rotary switch, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins on one of the gears in the train adjacent the switch, said pins being adapted to engage the switch to actuate the same as the gear rotates.

'7. A compass controlled switch comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic needle, a train of gears, motor means engaging the gear train whereby rotation thereof is urged, an escape ment gear in the train, an escapement arm pivotally mounted adjacent the needle, one end of said escapement arm releasably engaging the escapement gear, a cam on the needle, said cam including an upper and lower dwell, one end of the escapement arm being engaged by the upper or lower dwell of the cam whereby the escapement arm is rocked on its pivot, the rocking of the escapement arm releasing the escapement gear for partial rotation, rotary switch means, and means on one of the gears of the train engaging the switch means whereby the switch means is alternately opened and closed.

8. A compass controlled switch comprising a pivotally mounted magnetic needle, a train of gears, motor means engaging the gear train whereby rotation thereof is urged, an escapement gear in the train, an escapement arm pivotally mounted adjacent the needle, means on the needle engaging the escapement arm whereby rotation of the needle will cause oscillation of the escapement arm, a pair of oppositely arranged wings on the escapement gear, said escapement arm disengaging one of the wings and engaging the other as said arm is oscillated, thereby releasing the escapement gear for partial rotation, switch means and means on one of the gears in the train engaging the switch means to actuate the same as the last named gear rotates.

OSCAR NEUBERT, JR. 

